’10 Things I Hate About You’ cast: See the stars of the cult teen comedy over 25 years later

Julia Stiles (Kat Stratford)

Julia Stiles plays Kat Stratford, a spiky feminist with no interest in dating boys — until Patrick proves himself worthy of her attention. 

Stiles knew the role was special as soon as she read the script. “I was desperate for the part,” she told EW in 2019. “It was so refreshing to see a teenage girl who was so feisty… Mostly I would go out for commercials and they would tell me that I wasn’t bubbly enough. They always thought I was angry so to read a part like Kat I was like, ‘Ah, this is perfect for me!’”

Thanks to 10 Things, Stiles found a niche or two right away. She headlined more teen romances — Down to You (2000) and Save the Last Dance (2001) among them — and took on more modernized Shakespeare, playing Ophelia opposite Ethan Hawke in Hamlet (2000) and Desi (i.e. Desdemona) in the Othello-inspired O (2001).

Not long afterward, she found a home in a major franchise, booking the role of a conflicted CIA agent in The Bourne Identity (2002). She reprised the character in three sequels.

After landing the star-studded Mona Lisa Smile (2003) and headlining the remake of The Omen (2006), the New York City native took a diabolical detour into television. Her twisty guest arc in the fifth season of Dexter (2010) landed her both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. 

The veteran actress has since played Jennifer Lawrence’s sister in the Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and a journalist chronicling a wild true crime story in Hustlers (2019). In recent years, she’s balanced movies with increasing TV opportunities, including roles in Riviera (2017–2020) and The Lake (2022–2023).

Stiles married camera assistant Preston J. Cook in 2017. The pair has three children. She was previously in a relationship with her 10 Things costar, Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Heath Ledger (Patrick Verona)

Heath Ledger played Patrick Verona, a rebellious teen with a mysterious past who accepts the challenge of wooing Kat. 

10 Things was the Australian actor’s first American film — and the perfect introduction to his charm and commitment. He received further acclaim from there. He and fellow Aussie Mel Gibson played father and son in the war epic The Patriot (2000), after which the rising star fronted the modernized medieval crowd-pleaser A Knight’s Tale (2001).

His somber, intense supporting role in Monster’s Ball (2001) showed audiences a more serious side to his talents. That dramatic weight was put on full display in his Oscar-nominated lead performance in Brokeback Mountain (2005), opposite Jake Gyllenhaal.

After playing one of many Bob Dylans in I’m Not There (2007), Ledger went toe-to-toe with one of the other Dylans, Christian Bale, as the Joker to his Batman in The Dark Knight (2008). Months before its release, however, the 28-year-old actor died of an accidental overdose of prescription medications.

His idiosyncratic performance in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster earned universal acclaim, even as his untimely death cast a pall over the film. Ledger was posthumously awarded an Oscar for the role.

His final film, Terry Gilliam’s The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), was released months later.

Ledger had a daughter, Matilda, with his former partner, actress Michelle Williams.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Cameron James)

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was Cameron, a young man in the grip of first love. 

The actor has fond memories of making the film. In 2021, he posted a behind-the-scenes photo on Instagram: “I’ll never forget that summer, making that movie with such wonderful people. The best of times.”

Gordon-Levitt was just 16 at the time but already well-known as a child actor. He was the lead in Angels in the Outfield (1994) before finding a full-time gig as a young alien posing as a human in 3rd Rock From the Sun (1996–2001).

As he grew into adult roles, his career path became inextricably linked with writer/director Rian Johnson. The up-and-comer headlined Johnson’s high-school noir, Brick (2005), and has appeared in several of his efforts since. That includes a starring role alongside Bruce Willis in the time-travel actioner Looper (2012), a sneaky voice cameo in Glass Onion (2022), and the lead in an episode of Johnson’s murder mystery series Poker Face (2023).

Elsewhere, Gordon-Levitt won hearts in the indie rom-com 500 Days of Summer (2009), opposite Zooey Deschanel, and teamed up with Nolan for key supporting roles in Inception (2010) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

He played Abraham Lincoln’s eldest son in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012) and the controversial title role in Snowden (2016). In between all of that, he headlined his own directorial debut, the raunchy rom-com Don Jon (2013), opposite Scarlett Johansson.

The L.A. native was most recently seen alongside Eddie Murphy in the legacy sequel Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024).

Gordon-Levitt married Tasha McCauley in 2014; the pair have two sons and a daughter.

Larisa Oleynik (Bianca Stratford)

Larisa Oleynik plays Bianca, Kat’s sister, who likes her Skechers, but loves her Prada backpack. 

At the time, Oleynik was primarily known as the title character in Nickelodeon’s The Secret World of Alex Mack (1994–1998), though she was also a member of The Baby-Sitters Club (1995). Following 10 Things, she reunited with Gordon-Levitt on 3rd Rock as his character’s girlfriend.

The actress has stayed mainly in television in subsequent years, scoring recurring parts on Mad Men (2010–2015), Hawaii Five-0 (2011–2014), and Pretty Little Liars (2012–2014). She recently returned to Nickelodeon with a role in Erin & Aaron (2023).

Larry Miller (Walter Stratford)

Larry Miller plays Kat and Bianca’s beleaguered dad, who worries excessively about allowing his girls to date.

The stand-up comic has been a prolific character actor for decades, stealing scenes in Pretty Woman (1990) and The Princess Diaries (2001) while carving out a role in Christopher Guest’s mockumentary troupe, including Waiting For Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), and A Mighty Wind (2003).

Miller’s many film appearances include The Nutty Professor (1996), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), and Get Smart (2008). He’s been in equally high demand on the small screen, reprising his role as Mr. Stratford in the TV adaptation of 10 Things I Hate About You.

Miller has been married to television writer Eileen Conn since 1993. They have two children.

Andrew Keegan (Joey Donner)

Andrew Keegan plays Joey, the self-involved aspiring model who tries to date both of the Stratford sisters.

Keegan had recurring roles on Party of Five (1997–1998) and 7th Heaven (1997–2004) before landing 10 Things. Afterward, he appeared in two more modern-day Shakespeare riffs, joining costar Julia Stiles in O and appearing in A Midsummer Night’s Rave (2002).

In recent years, he’s worked largely in low-budget films, including The Activated Man (2023), alongside Sean Young and the late Tony Todd.

Keegan has one daughter, Aiya, born in 2016.

David Krumholtz (Michael Eckman)

David Krumholtz plays Michael, Cameron’s pal who helps him navigate the twisted path to romance with Bianca.

Before 10 Things, the young actor gained attention as Bernard, the sarcastic head elf in The Santa Clause (1994). He’s been piling up memorable character work ever since, from The Ice Storm (1997) to the Coen brothers’ Hail, Caesar! (2016) and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018). On the small screen, meanwhile, he landed a starring role in the hit procedural Numb3rs (2005–2010).

In recent years, Krumholtz has had an air of prestige about him, starring in David Simon’s The Deuce (2017–2019) and his adaptation of Philip Roth’s alternate history novel, The Plot Against America (2020). Then, of course, he earned career-best acclaim for his performance as physicist Isidor Rabi in the smash hit Oppenheimer (2023).

Krumholtz married actress Vanessa Britting in 2010. They have two children, daughter Pemma and son Jonas.

Susan May Pratt (Mandella)

Susan May Pratt plays Mandella, Kat’s Shakespeare-obsessed best friend who wears a period frock to the prom. 

This was just Pratt’s second movie appearance, which she followed with a lead role in ballet drama Center Stage (2000).

Since starring alongside the legendary Gena Rowlands in the TV movie Charms for the Easy Life (2002), the Michigan native has been a regular guest player on TV, appearing in everything from Charmed (2003) and Private Practice (2009) to Mad Men (2010) and Masters of Sex (2015).

Pratt’s husband, actor Kenneth Mitchell, died in 2024 after battling ALS for five years. They shared two children. 

Daryl Mitchell (Mr. Morgan)

Daryl “Chill” Mitchell plays Mr. Morgan, Kat’s English teacher, who has a stormy relationship with his students. 

Once a part of hip-hop group Groove B. Chill, Mitchell and his cohorts popped up in House Party (1990). From there, he found himself a new career path. Mitchell was a primary cast member on The John Larroquette Show (1993–1996) and Veronica’s Closet (1997–2000) before landing 10 Things and cult classic Galaxy Quest (1999).

In 2001, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, but it didn’t end his acting career. He returned to TV a year later, booking a full-time gig on Ed (2002–2004). The New York native was later a regular on NCIS: New Orleans (2014–2021) and had a recurring role on Fear the Walking Dead (2018–2022).

Mitchell recently reunited with his Galaxy Quest captain, Tim Allen, for the ABC sitcom Shifting Gears (2025–present). 

Mitchell has been married to his wife Carol since 1998. They have four children. 

Allison Janney (Ms. Perky)

Allison Janney was the school counselor, Ms. Perky, who writes steamy novels when she’s not cheerily berating students.

Having been a consistent presence in bit parts throughout the ’90s, Janney truly broke through just before the clock struck “21st century.” In 1999 alone, she appeared in 10 Things, Best Picture winner American Beauty, and cult comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous — not to mention the launch of The West Wing (1999–2006), for which she went on to win four Emmys as White House Press Secretary C.J. Cregg.

The vaunted character actress has been filling her award shelf ever since, picking up Emmys for Masters of Sex (2013–2015) and Mom (2013–2021) before winning an Oscar as Tonya Harding’s mother in I, Tonya (2017) opposite Margot Robbie.

Janney currently stars in the high-society satire Palm Royale (2024–present) and will soon appear in the Blake Lively/Anna Kendrick sequel, Another Simple Favor (2025).

Gabrielle Union (Chastity Church)

Gabrielle Union plays Chastity, Bianca’s best friend and eventual enemy. 

In 2017, Union shared a nostalgic photo of the cast on Instagram, writing, “Just a bunch of kids having the time of our lives up in Tacoma/Seattle… The best/coolest/most generous group of people to share my 1st film experience. What a time man.”

While her 10 Things role is fairly small, her follow-up, the cheerleader comedy Bring It On (2000), brought Union wide attention. She became a regular in romantic comedies, including The Brothers (2001) and Deliver Us from Eva (2003), and joined a blockbuster franchise with Bad Boys II (2003). 

The actress found a true starring role as a driven news anchor in the BET drama Being Mary Jane (2013–2019), which she also produced. As that series came to a close, she reprised her Bad Boys character with the spinoff crime procedural L.A.’s Finest (2019–2020), alongside Jessica Alba.

Union has also published a pair of well-received memoirs, We’re Going to Need More Wine and You Got Anything Stronger?, as well as two children’s books.

The actress married her husband, NBA legend Dwyane Wade, in 2014. They have one daughter, Kaavia. Their blended family includes three children from Wade’s previous relationships.